With the singer’s niece’s impending departure as executor, a role she had accepted soon after Franklin’s passing with the approval of the singer’s four sons, the troubled estate of Aretha Franklin has once more been thrown into disarray.
Sabrina Owens, the niece, informed her attorney of her “desire to resign” in a letter on Thursday. That same day, the letter was filed in probate court. She outlined in her letter the family conflicts that have resulted in accusations in court documents. At a hearing on Tuesday, the case’s administrative judge is anticipated to take Ms. Owens’ petition into consideration.
Ms. Owens, an administrator at the University of Michigan, has left her position.
But last May, when searching Franklin’s Detroit house, Ms. Owens came across three handwritten papers, one of which was hidden between the couch cushions in the living room. These papers seemed to be wills, but their authenticity is still up in the air. Kecalf Franklin and Ted White Jr., two of Franklin’s sons, have each requested that the judge appoint them as the executor.
Months of legal volleys and contentious negotiations between Franklin’s sons and the estate followed by that finding. There have been disputes about the distribution of Franklin’s personal possessions and claims of Ms. Owens’ poor management.
Lawyers for Franklin’s sons have in recent weeks been preparing for a possible trial in the fall.
With the singer’s niece’s impending departure as executor, a role she had accepted soon after Franklin’s passing with the approval of the singer’s four sons, the troubled estate of Aretha Franklin has once more been thrown into disarray.
In recent weeks, Franklin’s sons’ attorneys have been getting ready for what could be a fall trial.
Kecalf Franklin requested the removal of Mr. Bennett from the estate’s legal team in a separate petition. Requests for comment on Friday went unanswered from Mr. Bennett, who for over 30 years served as Franklin’s attorney and also served as Ms. Owens’ executor.
Ms. Owens wrote that she had a close relationship with Franklin, especially as her life was coming to an end. She claimed to have accompanied Franklin to numerous doctor’s appointments and, six months prior to her aunt’s passing, “quietly started drafting the blue print for her home going service,” or memorial, which ended up lasting more than eight hours and included a lengthy list of activities.